COUNCIL Tax rates will not go up to pay for Vale Royal's new recycling scheme.

That's the message from council bosses who say so many people are supporting it that more cash is being ploughed back into the scheme.

Vale Royal Borough Council says its new kerbside collection scheme has exceeded all expectations and refuse workers have already gathered vast piles of paper, textiles, glass and cans.

The recyclable products will all be sold and the cash ploughed back into the scheme which, according to council officers, will mean residents will not see a hike in their Council Tax due to the extra cost of introducing the scheme.

Lorryloads of paper have already been transported to Shotton Papermill where it can be pulped and turned into the newsprint that will be read at breakfast tables across the borough after it is sold back to companies like Chronicle pub -lisher Trinity Mirror Cheshire.

Refuse collectors, who are working flat out to make the scheme a success, say they collected more than 200 tonnes of dry recyclables, including paper, cans, bottles and textiles, and more than 250 tonnes of compostable waste since its introduction.

Steve Bakewell, head of the borough council's environmental operations, said: 'It has been a great success, it has been absolutely fantastic.

'There are some teething problems, which we always knew there would be, but they will be sorted out as the scheme goes on.'

And he praised the residents who have put their efforts into making the scheme a success. He said: 'We are seeing 80% and 90% participation in the scheme across the borough. Some areas, like Moulton, are delivering 100%.

'Even in the areas which are not getting involved to the same extent, we are seeing a 50% participation which is still very good.

'Our refuse collectors are now working four days a week, but they are working longer hours to get round everybody. Our partners Sita have also laid on 12 extra men, who are very experienced at this type of collection.

'And it will settle down. We have had extra materials to collect because people have been saving up their recyclables for weeks before the scheme started. In the next few weeks it will even out.'

The borough council says it will also vastly increase the amount of money it makes from selling on recycled cans when a new sorting machine is introduced. 'That will sort out the aluminium from steel cans,' said Mr Bakewell. 'We get a much better price for separated aluminium - we can get about £700 a tonne for just aluminium, but just £30 if it is mixed.'

He admitted that some households have been missed off collections, but the borough council claims it is often because residents have been putting out bags and boxes late on the day of collection.

Cllr Malcolm Gaskill, Vale Royal's lead councillor for waste, said: 'Some people have mislaid or not read the instructions. It is a radically new system and it will take some time for people to adapt, but soon it will be second nature.'

Some authorities employing similar schemes have opted to phase it in, but Nick Browning of Sita, who has helped a number of councils in introducing other kerbside recycling schemes, says Vale Royal has got it right.

'In my personal opinion, I believe it is better to get it started straight away. Where a scheme like this is phased in it just draws out the pain. People get used to it a lot quicker when it is introduced in one go.'